Ball Joint Replacement
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 451
Likes: 5
From: Raleigh, NC.
I use moog on everything and have had zero issues!
There are a few things to cause the stiffness. You did follow the torque instructions, right?
You did clean everything? You put the camber bushing back in the same position as it was when you removed it?
If the axel shafts are back in, did you check the u-joints?
There are a few things to cause the stiffness. You did follow the torque instructions, right?
You did clean everything? You put the camber bushing back in the same position as it was when you removed it?
If the axel shafts are back in, did you check the u-joints?
When you turn the axle, it turns very easily by hand, so rule that out.
Before connecting back to tie rod end, just turning the knuckle by hand shows how stiff it is. Very tight. When torquing in sequence as mentioned, the tightness did not show up until final torquing of lower ball joint with the 150ftlbs. That is when I noticed it got real tight.
One other thing I will do is loosen the power steering gearbox a 1/4 turn as it was tighted up several years ago as a mod improvement for wandering so that will put it back to original spot and may help some as well. But, in the end, once I get the motorcrafts on the passenger side, I will then know the real story if there is something not quite right. It will be at least a couple of weeks before I get the chance to do the passenger side, so will let you all know the results.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2014
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Ok, time for Ball Joint replacement 170K miles. Did Driver side today. Overall, went well. A couple of rough spots, one trying to get the axle out, and the other trying to make proper spacers with ball joint removal/install tool.
But got it done. Next to passenger side tomorrow.
Only concern I have is when torquing the ball joints per specs, I noticed that the knuckle got really hard to turn by hand before I re-installed the tie rod.
Is this normal to be very tight? Driving tonight, I could definitely feel the stiffness when turning. It did not want to easily on it's own self straighten the wheel.
What has your experience been? Does this loosen up after driving for some time?
But got it done. Next to passenger side tomorrow.
Only concern I have is when torquing the ball joints per specs, I noticed that the knuckle got really hard to turn by hand before I re-installed the tie rod.
Is this normal to be very tight? Driving tonight, I could definitely feel the stiffness when turning. It did not want to easily on it's own self straighten the wheel.
What has your experience been? Does this loosen up after driving for some time?
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 777
Likes: 2
I put new ball joints in my 2000 f250 the knuckle was so hard to turn I freaked out and loosened it just a quarter turn. I also put new hub assemblys on within 3 miles my truck started making noises from the front really bad so I took it back home and took it apart I figgered itd be the undertighted top ball joint turns out my new bearings blew out and bout made my wheel fall off.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 29
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Yeah it blew apart pretty much and ground the splines off my axle shaft. They had a warranty so I got new ones they have about 300 miles and are doin fine so far
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 451
Likes: 5
From: Raleigh, NC.
As promised, an update.
Got the Motorcraft Ball joints and installed them on the passenger side today. Finished in just under 2 hours, so it went well.
I noticed that as I torqued, it did not tighten up the knuckle like it did on the driver side with the Moog's. It did stiffen some, but still able to rotate it easily enough after fully torqued.
I will say though, after driving for last couple of weeks on the Driver side with Moog's, it finally seemed to loosen up the steering back to normal, so I think it was a breakin period for them. Was not fun to drive for the first week, but gradually I could tell it free up some, so left well enough alone and end up with Moogs on driver and Motorcraft on Passenger.
Now off to get the alignment and tires balanced.
I immediately noticed no more lane wandering when changing lanes which sometimes was kinda scary. It is a nice and tight and predictable steering again. I could not believe how worn they were at 170K miles.
Got the Motorcraft Ball joints and installed them on the passenger side today. Finished in just under 2 hours, so it went well.
I noticed that as I torqued, it did not tighten up the knuckle like it did on the driver side with the Moog's. It did stiffen some, but still able to rotate it easily enough after fully torqued.
I will say though, after driving for last couple of weeks on the Driver side with Moog's, it finally seemed to loosen up the steering back to normal, so I think it was a breakin period for them. Was not fun to drive for the first week, but gradually I could tell it free up some, so left well enough alone and end up with Moogs on driver and Motorcraft on Passenger.
Now off to get the alignment and tires balanced.
I immediately noticed no more lane wandering when changing lanes which sometimes was kinda scary. It is a nice and tight and predictable steering again. I could not believe how worn they were at 170K miles.
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